The proponents of R.A.

1425 (1956) believed that the neocolonial status of the Philippines in the
post-war period affirmed the need to instill among the youth the ideals and teachings of Jose
Rizal. More than half a century has passed since its enactment, what do you think is the 
relevance of studying Rizal’s life and works in the present time?

The magnified effects of the wars have made the creation and the promulgation of the Rizal Law.
Comparing their time to ours, we can say that their time is more tumultuous than ours, thus,
when a war would happen again our nation in the post-war period would already be equipped
with the sense of nationalism, humanism, and valor to protect what is rightfully ours. We also
currently have an ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Its effect on our economy has
already been felt by the increase in fuels and other industries. We can say that we are in a similar
situation to the Post-war period, in a way that we should also be prepared for what is to come
from the current altercations in Ukraine. Waking the Filipino's sense of nationalism and
humanism would be a good starting point in equipping our nation.

But still, to some of us, it is irrelevant. “Too far away to be our concern” as said and rephrased
by some Filipinos on the internet. Studying Rizal’s life and works also should not only be
dependent on our context. We can learn a lot from critically studying his life and works. Our
national heroes have this timeless quality to them that times and times again we can learn
something from them and apply those learnings to our society, especially in our senses of
nationalism and humanism.